The Role of Microbial Mats in the Removal of Hexavalent Chromium and Associated Shifts in Their Bacterial Community Composition.

ABSTRACT: Microbial mats are rarely reported for chromium-polluted ecosystems, hence information on their bacterial diversity and role in chromium removal are very scarce. We investigated the role of nine microbial mats, collected from three quarry sumps of chromium mining sites, in the removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Bacterial diversity in these mats and community shifts after incubation with Cr(VI) have been investigated using MiSeq sequencing. In nature, a chromium content of 1,911 ± 100 mg kg^-1 was measured in the microbial mats, constituting the third highest source of environmentally available chromium. The mats were able to remove 1 mg l^-1 of Cr(VI) in 7 days under aerobic conditions. MiSeq sequencing of the original mats yielded 46-99% of the sequences affiliat

SUBMITTER: Abed RMM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7001535 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature